“More than nervous, I’m excited,” said Adriana Gamboa Mendez, girl scout from the “Victor Duran Marin” Scout Group 3, just minutes after being designated Yucatan’s “Secretary of Public Safety for a Day“, as part of the Scout Week.

Fourteen years old and a student in ninth grade at Federal School No. 5 “Alfredo Barrera Vasquez,” the girl was invested by Luis Felipe Saiden Ojeda, head of the agency, at the Public Security Secretariat headquarters.

“It’s a pleasure to give you the command of the secretariat and its 4,000 operational agents; we look forward to verify the progress of the corporation during your administration.” said the secretary, in the presence of media and other police officials.

After the welcome speech, Saiden Ojeda presented an X-ray of the secretariat (in which 90% of the staff is from Yucatan), to the girl scout, who won the contest with her project “Do not get entangled with networks” (No te enredes con las redes).

Fourteen year old girl scout is “Secretary of Public Safety for a Day” (Photo Leslie Santos Bonilla for Diario de Yucatán)

Luis Felipe Saiden stated that the city is divided into five sectors (Central, North, South, East and West), the time of response to calls is five to seven minutes, and coordination with federal forces provides greater security for citizens.

He spoke of the Yucatan Shield program (Programa Escudo Yucatán), which will increase the number of surveillance cameras throughout the state. And to provide a better idea of police work, the pursuit video of the kidnappers of a woman in Colonia Santa Rosa was shown to the assistants.

Afterwards the official said, “We deliver a force working, equipped and committed to all.” He then handed her a badge with the star of the secretariat and three sectors (patches) with the flag of Mexico, the star of the SSP and the legend “state forces.” In return, Adriana gave Saiden Ojeda a patch of Scout Week 2016 and a scarf.

“I’m going on vacation,” exclaimed Luis Felipe Saiden.

After the exchange, the official addressed Adriana with a smile saying, “Now I’m on vacation and you’re in trouble …” and invited her to appoint her commander. Raquel Navarro Leal, of the Scouts Group 20, was designated for the position.

Fourteen year old girl scout is “Secretary of Public Safety for a Day” (Photo Leslie Santos Bonilla for Diario de Yucatán)

At the end of the formal ceremony, the head of the SSP for a day and her commander, accompanied by Maria Elena Mendoza Soberanis, head of the Women’s Squadron, toured the facility.

The first stop was the Police Intelligence and Monitoring Unit, where they were received by manager Jesus Martinez Estrella. They also visited the operational division, witnessed demonstrations of rappelling, weapons, canine unit and ambulance corps.

In addition, they paid a visit to the Specialized Crime Scene Unit and saw a display of radar at kilometer 45 of the Periferico. Adriana Marilu admitted she was kind of surprised to realize that so many cameras are watching over the city, and declared: “Now I feel safer thanks to the state police.”